Internationally acclaimed Indian-origin British contemporary artist Bharti Kher has been commissioned by Powerhouse to create a major public artwork for Powerhouse Parramatta, marking one of the centrepiece installations for the new cultural landmark in Western Sydney.
Titled Tree of Life, the seven-metre bronze sculpture draws on Kher’s interpretation of the sacred tree from Indian mythology, traditionally described in Hindu texts as a conscious entity offering protection and connection between the human and spiritual worlds.
Conceived as a “spirit work” rather than a narrative piece, Tree of Life layers ancestral heads within the symbolic form of the tree, reflecting themes of memory, lineage and collective history. The work explores how families and communities remain interconnected as they evolve over time.
Kher said the totem represents an “Axis Mundi” for Powerhouse Parramatta, linking the living and spiritual realms while acknowledging humanity’s place within the natural world and its mythologies.
The sculpture also reflects the architectural vision of the Powerhouse Parramatta building itself, with its biomimicry-inspired exoskeleton designed to bridge human scale and large civic space. The institution said the artwork and architecture together form a shared message of connection between nature, humanity and memory.
Community consultation for the work took place in 2023, involving the artist, local residents, City of Parramatta representatives, Indian community leaders, creative industries stakeholders, Create NSW and the Centre for Australia-India Relations. Participants highlighted the significance of public art that reflects Western Sydney’s diverse communities, including its large Indian diaspora.
One of Kher’s signature materials is the bindi, a traditional Indian forehead decoration that she reinterprets in her work as a symbol of the “third eye”, representing spiritual perception and expanded consciousness. She uses such materials as artistic mediums, transforming their cultural meanings within contemporary contexts.
The Tree of Life sculpture originates from Kher’s Intermediaries series, where she repurposes broken clay figurines sourced from second-hand markets in India. It builds on her earlier public artwork Ancestor, continuing her exploration of transformation, spirituality and cultural memory.
Powerhouse said the new installation will become a defining landmark within Powerhouse Parramatta, symbolising multicultural identity, shared histories and the evolving cultural landscape of Western Sydney.
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